[batracom]

@robstah has covered this in his post but I'll just second what he says. In the world of IEMs, the PP8s is not a large set. I have owned and tried far bigger IEMs. As far as I know, the sound signature is exactly the same between the two models so the smaller variant is the one I would recommend. As stated, the fit is very close to a custom IEM - quite remarkable - and tips will be the most important next factor for fit (Spinfits are my recommendation in terms of seal and maintenance of sound sig)

The PP8s has a famously reference tuning which you can adapt if necessary with a boost in upper or lower frequencies (or both or neither) I have owned them for over a year and am still marvelling at the sound they produce. I auditioned them against the top tier offerings at a CanJam and for my ears and tastes, nothing beat them - even though I was listening to more expensive sets. I have yet to find a style or genre of music which they do not excel at - classical music is beautifully represented with details, soundstage and musicality. At this price, you should really audition them before purchase but I suspect you will be very pleased with them when you do. Please let us know how you get on!

Thanks a lot, this was very helpful! Looks like there is little harm in going for the small version from the get go, I am assuming that there will be little or no worsening of isolation over the larger sized one, but at least equal, if not better comfort.

The comfort is quite important for me - The IE800S is not the worst in this department, but its fit is always a struggle, with the short upper cable, the need to pin to a shirt, the little leeway one has with tips, and so forth. The Prophile 8 looks like a straight improvement here. I am drawn to over ear wearing because I also have the Xelento and that is a wonderful fit, but the sound is way warmer than what’s needed for classical, and constricted as a consequence. Classical, especially orchestral, is merciless when it comes to dividing the good gear from the bad!

Alas, can’t try the Prophile 8 before buying because virtually nowhere close to me has it on demo, but will make sure I get it from somewhere with a good return policy.

 

[misteral201103]

Thanks a lot, this was very helpful! Looks like there is little harm in going for the small version from the get go, I am assuming that there will be little or no worsening of isolation over the larger sized one, but at least equal, if not better comfort.

The comfort is quite important for me - The IE800S is not the worst in this department, but its fit is always a struggle, with the short upper cable, the need to pin to a shirt, the little leeway one has with tips, and so forth. The Prophile 8 looks like a straight improvement here. I am drawn to over ear wearing because I also have the Xelento and that is a wonderful fit, but the sound is way warmer than what’s needed for classical, and constricted as a consequence. Classical, especially orchestral, is merciless when it comes to dividing the good gear from the bad!

Alas, can’t try the Prophile 8 before buying because virtually nowhere close to me has it on demo, but will make sure I get it from somewhere with a good return policy.

Isolation (tip dependent obviously) is very good for me. I can use them on a plane and hear nothing of my surroundings (even in quiet passages of music).
Comfort has been absolutely fine. In honesty, I would love to be able to use Comply tips as I find they deliver the best comfort but foam tips change the signature far too much for my liking. The Spinfits gave the best results and as long as you get the right size for your ears, you should have no issues with comfort, seal or isolation.

Looking forward to reading your impressions!!

 

[robstah]

Isolation (tip dependent obviously) is very good for me. I can use them on a plane and hear nothing of my surroundings (even in quiet passages of music).
Comfort has been absolutely fine. In honesty, I would love to be able to use Comply tips as I find they deliver the best comfort but foam tips change the signature far too much for my liking. The Spinfits gave the best results and as long as you get the right size for your ears, you should have no issues with comfort, seal or isolation.

Looking forward to reading your impressions!!

I'm right there with you with the spinfit + PP8 combo. CP100s seem to work great for the most part, just wish the double flange CP240s were more comfortable during long wear sessions.

 

[misteral201103]

@robstah Out of interest, how did you end up with the PP8? What did you have before and how did you decide on these as your next earphones?
And how bloody delighted with them are you? Just interested!
I'm an infidel and have the bass boost switched on. I refused to do it for months and loved the reference sig. Then I foolishly popped it on and listened to some modern music and now just don't have the heart to turn it off again. I knew it would happen like that! Frequently taken aback at just how wonderful they are, they are my daily drivers and my escape.

 

[robstah]

@robstah Out of interest, how did you end up with the PP8? What did you have before and how did you decide on these as your next earphones?
And how bloody delighted with them are you? Just interested!
I'm an infidel and have the bass boost switched on. I refused to do it for months and loved the reference sig. Then I foolishly popped it on and listened to some modern music and now just don't have the heart to turn it off again. I knew it would happen like that! Frequently taken aback at just how wonderful they are, they are my daily drivers and my escape.

I'm no ear expert by any means and my IEM life has been quite limited. I actually started a while back, mostly with Grado, Audio-Technica and Sennheiser headphones. I was playing with HD video and lossless audio (digitally) before a large majority of folks knew the tech existed. Had an iRiver iHP-120 which I used primarily as a source with optical out. Even used it to record off of soundboards at concerts. While still an audiophile at heart, I did take a break from it all for a while, and just recently got back in. The tech is far superior across the board, especially in the wireless field. So, I thought I would play around with some Chi-fi IEMs and the ES100 as a base. While the Chi-fi did seem alright (quality issues kept popping up), I thought about making the jump into the higher end, and instead of dropping thousands on a bunch of mid tier IEMs, I thought about going straight into TOTL territory. After a lot of research, I was between the CA Andromeda and the PP8 which was available used at the time for less, so I went the PP8 direction and haven't regretted it since.

As for the switches, I stay neutral (both off) to start and some times I bump the bass on depending on song/genre. I mainly listen to rock, alternative, punk and EDM. I recently picked up a DTR1 DAP and have been enjoying the pair. Right now, I don't plan on getting anything else.

 

[batracom]

Glad to see you're as happy with them as the rest of us! I've had mine for a year now, just recently added a balanced cable.

Could you please tell us which balanced cable you have, and whether it has affected the SQ? Looking to get one, moderately priced, from the get go, as I would like to hook up the Prophile 8 to the AMP4s I have on my DX220, and also on the balanced section of the AMP1 MK2.

 

[bukumurah]

FYI, a diehard fan and owner of pp8 here but I also own and use samsung's galaxy buds (original version) true wireless for daily drivers.. imho they are very enjoyable despite being the complete opposite in sound signature (in normal/EQ Off mode) to the pp8.. and if I ever need a neutral-ish sound on the gbuds (for listening to classicals, for instance, where neutrality is a complete must), I just switch on the treble boost mode, which is essentially a Diffuse Field sound signature that is rather similar to the pp8's reference sound signature

Ofcz nothing beats listening to the pp8 at the end of the day.. listening to the gbuds is like listening to recorded music (or background work music of sorts).. but going back to the pp8 is like being transported to the concert venue, where everything is so realistic and lifelike (okay, that may be an exaggeration.. but you get the general idea)..

Btw, what DAP is everyone using to drive their pp8? I use cayin n5iis now, have sony wm1a on the way, and is hoping to get an A&K SP1000 someday..

 

[misteral201103]

Could you please tell us which balanced cable you have, and whether it has affected the SQ? Looking to get one, moderately priced, from the get go, as I would like to hook up the Prophile 8 to the AMP4s I have on my DX220, and also on the balanced section of the AMP1 MK2.

Nobunaga Labs Odin - it's silver plated copper.
http://nobunagalabs.com/nobunagalabs_hybrid/custom-recable/odin/

I picked it up at CanJam Shanghai, completely by chance. Also got it about half-price. I had listened to a few others, this was the one that gave me the advantages of balanced without compromising the signature in any way. I am sure there are more reasonably priced options which will do the same job, but that involves going to a specialist shop and trying them all out. In the event that you DO go with something else, I strongly recommend auditioning first or buying with a good return policy.

 

[misteral201103]

Btw, what DAP is everyone using to drive their pp8? I use cayin n5iis now, have sony wm1a on the way, and is hoping to get an A&K SP1000 someday..

Fiio M11 balanced out. Love it!

 

[batracom]

Fiio M11 balanced out. Love it!

Does balanced open up the soundstage more, making it larger, or are you using balanced solely because of the sound signature of the balanced amp section of the M11?

 

[carskiller]

As a longtime PP8 owner, I will share my experience with you so you can have a head start with yours..

PP8 are very neutral iems, so any change in tips, cables, or source will affect their tonality quite noticeably.. one can almost consider them to be chameleons to some extent.. do bear in mind though that no matter what you do, you will never be able to turn them into a bass monster like the Sony Z1R, a resolution king like the qdc VX, or thick and smooth like the Vision Ears VE8.. my point is that the PP8 will easily change their sound signature (somewhat) while still remain as a PP8..

So onto the actual parts rolling..

Tips - of all the tips I have tried (almost everything), the stock black silicone ones are the most neutral sound and the best match for the PP8.. tips with narrower bores (smaller hole than stock) such as Final E Type will make the soundstage smaller and more congested but also increase the bass.. while tips with larger bores (bigger hole than stock) such as JVC spiral dot++ or Azla Sedna will make the sound airier and clearer but also make the bass very thin..

Cables - stock cable is most likely the only cable that will retain the original dead neutral tonality of the PP8.. other cables will definitely change the sound signature.. going balanced is not always the best way to go but I find that a lot of DAPs seem to have a much better balanced circuitry compared to the single ended side.. get familiar with the original PP8 sound signature first by using the stock cable for some time.. then see if you desire a slightly different sound signature (warmer, brighter, etc).. after that find a cable that gives you that sound by demoing different cables.. as for me, I prefer a slightly neutral-warm and musical sound compared to the standard, very neutral sound of the PP8.. so I ended up using the Dita OSLO cable which gives me that kind of neutral-warm sound.. but they are not perfect, the sound is ever so slightly muddier than the original PP8 sound, though I still find it enjoyable for long listening sessions.. there is a trade off for everything..
DISCLAIMER: I am a believer that cable materials change the sound of iems somethat.. or maybe I should do better volume matching, who knows.. but I do hear some differences nevertheless..

DAPs - every change in DAP will significantly modify the sound signature of the PP8, more so than everything else I think.. some DAPs like the iBasso DX150 will make the PP8 very dead and boring.. while the DX221mk2 will make the PP8 very mid centric (seems slightly rolled off on both ends).. on the other hand, the Cayin N6ii with A01 dac will make the mids extremely thin but the bass and treble very nice.. the infamous, giant-killer, budget DAP DX160 makes the PP8 too aggressive and fatiguing for me.. in the end, the Cayin N5iiS is a reasonably good match for the PP8 as it retains the neutral sound signature, and also happens to be my DAP at the moment.. but I have heard the PP8 sounding much better with Sony WM1Z, DMP-Z1 (!) and AK SP1000 (hopefully my next DAP soon).. I have a WM1A on the way, so we shall see how well they pair with the PP8..

So yeah, those are my impressions from experimenting with my PP8.. basically they are so neutral that any change in the system will be so apparent.. so original parts (tips, cables) and a neutral DAP are almost always the way to go until you know what it is that you value more than dead flat neutrality, then you can go there..

Cheers!

 

[carskiller]

As a longtime PP8 owner, I will share my experience with you so you can have a head start with yours..

PP8 are very neutral iems, so any change in tips, cables, or source will affect their tonality quite noticeably.. one can almost consider them to be chameleons to some extent.. do bear in mind though that no matter what you do, you will never be able to turn them into a bass monster like the Sony Z1R, a resolution king like the qdc VX, or thick and smooth like the Vision Ears VE8.. my point is that the PP8 will easily change their sound signature (somewhat) while still remain as a PP8..

So onto the actual parts rolling..

Tips - of all the tips I have tried (almost everything), the stock black silicone ones are the most neutral sound and the best match for the PP8.. tips with narrower bores (smaller hole than stock) such as Final E Type will make the soundstage smaller and more congested but also increase the bass.. while tips with larger bores (bigger hole than stock) such as JVC spiral dot++ or Azla Sedna will make the sound airier and clearer but also make the bass very thin..

Cables - stock cable is most likely the only cable that will retain the original dead neutral tonality of the PP8.. other cables will definitely change the sound signature.. going balanced is not always the best way to go but I find that a lot of DAPs seem to have a much better balanced circuitry compared to the single ended side.. get familiar with the original PP8 sound signature first by using the stock cable for some time.. then see if you desire a slightly different sound signature (warmer, brighter, etc).. after that find a cable that gives you that sound by demoing different cables.. as for me, I prefer a slightly neutral-warm and musical sound compared to the standard, very neutral sound of the PP8.. so I ended up using the Dita OSLO cable which gives me that kind of neutral-warm sound.. but they are not perfect, the sound is ever so slightly muddier than the original PP8 sound, though I still find it enjoyable for long listening sessions.. there is a trade off for everything..
DISCLAIMER: I am a believer that cable materials change the sound of iems somethat.. or maybe I should do better volume matching, who knows.. but I do hear some differences nevertheless..

DAPs - every change in DAP will significantly modify the sound signature of the PP8, more so than everything else I think.. some DAPs like the iBasso DX150 will make the PP8 very dead and boring.. while the DX221mk2 will make the PP8 very mid centric (seems slightly rolled off on both ends).. on the other hand, the Cayin N6ii with A01 dac will make the mids extremely thin but the bass and treble very nice.. the infamous, giant-killer, budget DAP DX160 makes the PP8 too aggressive and fatiguing for me.. in the end, the Cayin N5iiS is a reasonably good match for the PP8 as it retains the neutral sound signature, and also happens to be my DAP at the moment.. but I have heard the PP8 sounding much better with Sony WM1Z, DMP-Z1 (!) and AK SP1000 (hopefully my next DAP soon).. I have a WM1A on the way, so we shall see how well they pair with the PP8..

So yeah, those are my impressions from experimenting with my PP8.. basically they are so neutral that any change in the system will be so apparent.. so original parts (tips, cables) and a neutral DAP are almost always the way to go until you know what it is that you value more than dead flat neutrality, then you can go there..

Cheers!

Thanks for the in-depth review and advice! I guess I'd stick to the original cable, which I have nothing against it. My only concern is that my AK player and its comparatively weak 3.5 jack.
Guess I'll have to save up for the sp1000 or the 2000 because it has a huge difference compared to my se100.
And actually, I don't see balance is a must, but with my AK player, it seemed better using a balanced output. Hope the sp1000 with amp and the 2000 (with better output) could generate better sound, even for the 3.5 jack.
Will give a try on the original eartips! (didn't try them, I went for the cp100 right away)

 

[batracom]

Has anyone compared the Promission X to the Prophile 8? The very few comparisons I have seen mention that the Promission is much warmer, and possibly not as detailed as the Prophile 8, but with a larger soundstage. Does it ring true, and would the Prophile 8 still be the best choice for genres such as classical?

 

[robstah]

Just to post an update, I noticed that if you stick with silver plated copper (SPC) cables, the sound signature doesn't change much, if at all. I was playing around with a copper only cable for a while and had to use an earbuddy to boost the vocals. While that did work, I did lose some soundstage. Tried a cheapo SPC cable and I could remove the earbuddy from the loop, the vocals and neutral presence of the IEMs were brought back. It's either the material or change in resistance in the cable, I'll do more research later in those regards (measured 1.6-2ohm in stock Plastics1 cable, which is SPC as well).

I'd also like to mention that I ended up moving to some spiral dots (didn't realize they made a MS size which fits me perfect, had sealing issues with the S, so I shrugged them off during my tip rolling journey). The spinfits are nice, but did pull down the top end slightly as well and the spiral dots are way more comfortable.

 

[batracom]

Just to post an update, I noticed that if you stick with silver plated copper (SPC) cables, the sound signature doesn't change much, if at all. I was playing around with a copper only cable for a while and had to use an earbuddy to boost the vocals. While that did work, I did lose some soundstage. Tried a cheapo SPC cable and I could remove the earbuddy from the loop, the vocals and neutral presence of the IEMs were brought back. It's either the material or change in resistance in the cable, I'll do more research later in those regards (measured 1.6-2ohm in stock Plastics1 cable, which is SPC as well).

I'd also like to mention that I ended up moving to some spiral dots (didn't realize they made a MS size which fits me perfect, had sealing issues with the S, so I shrugged them off during my tip rolling journey). The spinfits are nice, but did pull down the top end slightly as well and the spiral dots are way more comfortable.

Good to know, could you please tell us what cheap SPC cable you are using, and whether it is balanced, or keeps soundstage as it is?